Mold for forming plaques



Sept. 23, 1952- 1. H. as 1 2,611,170

. v MOLD FOR FQRMING PLAQUES Filed Nov. 13, 1946 MIIIII/IM'IIIYI/A/A INVENTOR. \RENE H.Tm:1s

wM/LWMM ATTOKNEY Patented Sept. 23, 1952 r UN lTED,;1;;;;S;TATE S PATENT o. FF l CE Mow FoR'FoRMING rLAQUEs a Irene H. Theis, Denver, Colo. Application November 13, 1946, Serial No. 709,534

This invention relates to improvements in methods of making plaques and has reference more particularly to a method for making souvenir plaques containing replicas of childrens hands and/or feet.

Parents, as a rule, are desirous of obtaining some souvenirs of their children when they are very small and are, of course, also desirous of obtaining souvenirs that have an ornamental value as well.

It is the object of this invention-to produce a method for making souvenirs containing exact replicas of a childs hand or foot and to form the same into an object of ornamental value.

The method which forms the subject of this invention can be most readily explained and understood when reference is had to the accompanying drawing which shows the mold employed in the making of the souvenir plaque, and in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the mold with parts broken away;

Figure 2 is a section taken on line 2-2, Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a plan view of the completed plaque.

For the purpose of facilitating the molding of the plaques to which this invention relates, a mold of a peculiar construction is provided. The mold consists of a base 5 that is constructed of any suitable material, either metal, wood or plaster of Paris, whichever may be found to be the most desirable. The base has a center depression comprising a flat bottom 6 that curves upwardly along the surface I, thence outwardly as indicated at 8 and thence upwardly and outwardly by means of an s-shaped curve 9. Positioned in the depressed areas of the base is a mold 10 that is formed from rubber or some rubber-like material which can be readily flexed and which has suflicient elasticity to return to its original shape. The outer or under surface I l-{Clain (01. 25-118) depression in the mold and rests on the flat bottom thereof and is preferably allowed to harden of the mold fits the depression in the base as shown in Figure 2. The mold has a central circular depression whose bottom has been designated by reference numeral II. It is also provided with a flat surface I2 that terminates in an annular groove 13 and in a vertical cylindrical wall 14. The mold terminates in a flange 15. This mold can be readily removed from the base and can be stretched or bent, as occasion may require.v In order to make the plaque, a piece of molding clay of proper consistency is supported on a flat surface and pressed against the childs hand or foot so as to form an impression in intaglio. The molding clay is then cut into a circular piece of proper size to fit the central slightly in that position. After the molding clay has set sufiiciently, if it is not already in place in the mold, it is transferred to the mold and occupies the position indicated by reference numeral 16 in Figure 2. The irregular upper surface which corresponds to the impression of the childs hand or foot has been designated by reference numeral 11. A mixture of some cementitious material, preferably such as is commonly employed by dentists for making impressions or a good grade of plaster of Paris is now mixed to the proper consistency and poured into the mold on top of the molding clay impression. The mold is preferably vibrated so as to assure that the plaster fills all of the depressions so as to make a true and perfect replica of the hand or foot whose impression is in the surf-ace of the molding clay. The cement plaque has been designated by reference numeral 18 and is allowed to remain in place until it is sufficiently set to assure that it will not break on handling. After the cement has set, the rubber mold is removed from the base and the cement plaque is separated from the mold, the latter being stretched or twisted in such a way as to effect a release. The plaque is now in molded form, but, before it is completed, it must be subjected to some steps which give it a finished appearance. The first step after the plaque has been molded as above described is to subject it to a sculping operation, that is the operator employing a suitable tool cuts away some of the cement along the outer outline of the hand or the foot, so as to bring the replica into a greater relief. After the sculping has been completed, the plaque is then smoothened by rubbing it with suitable tools and/or with an abradant, such as sand paper. When the surface has been properly smoothened, it is subjected to a tinting operation to give it the desired color effect. After the tinting has been finished, the whole surface of the plaque is coated with a suitable transparent lacquer or a plastic varnish which protects the surface and gives the whole plaque a finished appearance. During the molding operation a loop of thread is molded into the material so as to provide a convenient means for supporting the plaque on a wall or other surface.

When the impression is carefully taken and the cement is mixed in the proper proportions and subjected to vibration or otherwise manipulated so that it will sink into all of the depressions, a true replica of the hand or foot results.

The plaque l8 must be removed from the clay 3 impression while the latter is still moist so as to assure a clear break or separation between the two.

Having described the claimed as new is:

A mold for forming plaques comprising, a base of rigid material having a relatively shallow depression with a surrounding wall in its top surface, a-moldmember of resilient flexible material having one side formed. to fit the entire depression in the base, the other side having a central depression in which is disposed acorrespondingly shaped piece of molding clay having an impression of an infants hand or foot in its upper surface, the flexible mold member having an annular area surrounding the central depression and bounded by a wall, for the reception of a hydrosetting cement.

invention, what is IRENE H. THEIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

4 UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 779,979 Walter Jan. 10, 1905 1,399,485 Johnson Dec. 6, 1921 1,789,153 Osborne Jan. 13, 1931 1,9 4,049 Smith June 13, 1933 2,034,313 Russell Mar. 17, 1936 2,083,484 Zampol June 8, 1937 2,091,973 Fessler et a1. Sept. 7, 1937 "2,119,590 MacDonald June 7, 1938 2,120,987 Murray June 21, 1938 2,177,461 Ruthven Oct. 24, 1939 12,298,223 .Miller Oct. 6, 1942 2,333,481 Limmer Nov. 2, 1943 OTHER REFERENCES American Textbook of Prosthetic Dentistry, by Essig, published by Lea Brothers and Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1900.

ThePracticeof Dentistry by Greenbaum, pub- Llished by D. Appelton and Company, New York and'Londan, 1'912.

l(Copies of the above publications may be found in'Division'55, United States Patent Office.) 

